Disclaimer: All of the characters that are depicted in this story belong to J. K. Rowling except the ones that are first introduced in this story.

Authors notes: Ok I realize that I only submitted one chapter and probably no one read it because I submitted it at 2:00 in the morning, but trust me, this is really good story. Later, Harry will be going to Azkaban, learning how to fight like Dumbledore, and facing his own mortality. But, I've got to start slow.

Chapter 2

The Exonerated

Harry walked down to the end of Privet Drive. Once he got to the street, the looked around quickly to make sure no one was looking, then he pulled out his wand and held it up. A few seconds later, a giant triple-decker bus pulled up in front of him from out of nowhere. Harry bent down to pick up his trunk, but stopped abruptly when he heard a familiar voice say "Ello Arry!"

"Stan!" Harry responded. Sure enough, there stood Stan Shunpike, the conductor of the Night Bus. Stan Shunpike had been sent to Azkaban prison the previous year for passing information to Death Eaters. Although, Harry knew there was no way that Stan Shunpike was a Death Eater and that the Ministry had only arrested him to make it look like they were doing a good job. Harry walked up to Stan Shunpike and shook his hand firmly. Harry hand no memory of ever actually liking Stan Shunpike, but he was never the less, happy to see him. Harry also noticed that Stan also seemed just as happy to see him.

"I thought you were in Azkaban." said Harry.

"They let me out." replied Stan proudly. "Here, let me get that for you." Stan bent down and picked up Harry's trunk. "Traveling light?" he asked as he felt how light Harry's trunk was.

"Feather light charm." Harry replied.

"Oh, so your seventeen now?" Stan asked as he brought Harry's trunk onto the Night Bus.

"Just turned it today."

"Well happy birthday sir. So, where to?"

"The Burrow."

"Ok. Take er away Ern." Said Stan turning to the bus driver.

The Night Bus took off with a force so powerful, it forced Harry into a sitting position on the bed behind him. Stan pulled out a ticket and handed it to Harry. "How much?" Harry asked.

"Birthday special. Free ride." Stan replied as Harry took his ticket. Harry noticed that Stan Shunpike seemed very different. The effects of Azkaban showed clearly on his face. There were bags under his eyes and his face looked pale and unshaven. His red hair was also turning grey at the edges. The physical changes weren't the only changes in Stan. He was also treating Harry with a new found respect.

"So, how long have you been out?" Harry asked, trying to start conversation.

"Only about three days. About time too. But I'm not complaining. Got me old job back, and got the ell away from Azkaban. It might not have dementors anymore, but that didn't stop it from being a totally dismal place. No sunlight, terrible food, and of course the ranting and raving of Luscious Malfoy next door."

Harry looked at Stan slightly impressed. Most people who came out of Azkaban found it painful to talk about, but Stan Shunpike, who always seemed to like knowing things that other people didn't know, actually seemed egger to tell about his experience.

"You met Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Yeah his cell was right next to mine. You put him away didn't you?"

"Yeah. What did he rant and rave about?"

"Oh, just a bunch of bull crap about ow e should get better living conditions or else You-Know-Oo would show up and murder everyone, blah blah blah, yak yak yak. Really annoying. I'm surprised that they didn't just use a silencing charm on him, but I guess they considered him an added punishment for all of the prisoners around him. So, do you think that they are going to open Ogwarts this year?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know."

Harry and Stan spent the rest of the bus ride chatting about Hogwarts. Apparently, Stan had graduated only two years before Harry had started school. He had been a Hufflepuff and had wanted to be an Auror, but hadn't gotten good enough grades. Harry was happy to see that Stan seemed to share his hatred of Snape and his love of quiddich. Stan had been a chaser on the Hufflepuff team but hadn't been very good. "Of course in my day, we weren't constantly being attacked by Death Eaters. But then again, we didn't have the Chosen One back then. It must suck.

Harry laughed. "Yeah it does." There was an awkward silence which was broken by the Night Bus finally stopping in front of the Burrow.

"The Burrow." Said Stan. "Right this ways sir." Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and stepped off the Bus. "Um, Arry." Stan called after him. "Look, I eard that it was your influence that got me out of Azkaban, and I just wanted to say thanks."

"Don't mention it" Harry replied. Stan gave Harry one last wave before the Night Bus took off and disappeared into thin air.